HP & Gamers

Don't know why this just occured to me....but, why hasn't HP created a dedicated gaming line for hard core gamers?

We know Alienware is geared to gamers, and we appreciate HP's classy stying...yet HP is dedicated more for the "common man" and caters to the business class person.....

Would it be too costly for HP to develop a gamers line of laptops/desktops? Its just for person like myself who appreciates HPs design, ease of use, etc.... and yes I'm also a gamer, I'd like to see a system that does it all...and pwns at gaming when its time for play time. I just don't get why HP will not go in that direction...unless they feel there isn't a big market in gaming...I have no idea.....

I will be getting my Envy 17 3D.... and most likely my first Alienware when the M18x comes out....but it pains me to think I can't have one laptop that can be all that instead of buying 2, one for work, one for play....

KJ

 

They bought out Voodoo a few years ago. Made a few gamer desktops but assimilated it into their product line in the form of VoodooDNA. The Envy is a byproduct of VoodooDNA.

HP doesn't want to get involved with gamer specific products. They tend to be more trouble than they are worth. Alienware had a very bad reputation for a while for making overpriced, overheating, junk. They have been a fair bit better under Dell's umbrella. But the stigma remains.

Look into Sager/Clevo notebooks which tend to be the most powerful of gaming notebooks.

 

2.0, are you saying they make comparably strong gaming machines....will they be equal in power to the upcoming Alienware M18x? and they have the sleek look of HP design such as the Envy? That is a tall order....for anyone...

P.S. You see...if somehow I can "magically" mod the Envy 17 3D and put in Crossfire HD 6970...well, I'd be grinning from ear to ear. If I was an enginering genious believe me, I'd do it! hhahaha


KJ

 

Get the 8540w or 8740w

 

Honestly, going along with what 2.0, I think that they believe it is more trouble than it is worth but for a different reason. The hardcore gaming niche isn't all that big and HP feels like they already own the majority of the market share anyway so why bother?

They have some decent gaming capabilities in the notebook market anyway. The Envy 14 has the best GPU you can get in a 14'' notebook and the dv6/Envy 17 can at least compete gaming wise with all but the highest end gaming notebooks in their form factors, which is even a smaller share of the market.

 

Sager/Clevo, if anything, tend to make stronger gaming machines than Alienware; in point of fact, (some) early Alienwares were rebranded Sager/Clevos. What Sager/Clevo tends to lack is aesthetic sense; they tend to make plain plastic box notebooks (they've gotten a little better about that recently). Don't forget that Sager/Clevo are the people that put _desktop_ CPUs into some of their notebook lines. Sager/Clevo really tends to be for the people that look for "power" per price over everything else.

As for HP, I'd go with the "not their target market" idea. Gamers also have a marked tendency to be modders and enthusiasts, which can result in a nightmare when it comes to warranty and support issues.

 

This is very weird to me...for years I've heard how Alienware was the "gamers" company...that was it. You wanted to be a gamer just buy an Alienware hands down, but be prepared to pay out your xxxxxxx..... LOL...

Now, when I joined NBR is the ONLY time I've even heard of Sager/Clevo What gives? I would assume they didn't just get on the scene a year ago, so why have I never heard of them....? Why is Alienware better known as the company for gaming machines?

Well, looks like I'll have to start roaming the Sager/Clevo threads and start asking some questions there too.... NBR is a most eye opening, learning experience....

KJ

 

As stated, Sager/Clevo was an ODM(original design manufacturer) for Alienware before Dell bought them. That's part of the reason why you haven't heard of them. Plus they didn't advertise and the only channel to buy them was through rebranded resellers or from Sager directly which is a small outfit in Cali.

Alienware sold Sager/Clevo models with some mods of their own plus would offer custom paint jobs. Those who knew where to get a Clevo at the time, would laugh at those who bought Alienware models for twice the price as Clevo resellers.

All in all, most hardcore gamers go desktop. For the money, you can get a significantly more power system. Another reason why the majority of manufacturers out there don't make gamer specific notebooks anymore. They tend to fixate on multimedia notebooks that can manage to do some gaming as their top end. Something which gives the models broader appeal.

Anyway, definitely check out Sager/Clevo. The resellers provide excellent support.

 

2.0... your input is eye opening. I feel like I've lived in a cave! lol... sure, it takes me time to take it all in, but I do like to think I have an open mind and will listen. I don't act immediately...just take my time all to learn about stuff.. Anyway, I will check Sager/Clevo out and see how they do on price, build, warranty, and most important, components/performance. First thing to find out is what is their top gaming laptop now, and how will it compare to Alienware's yet unreveiled M18x... Thanks again!

KJ

 

stop thinking 'gamer' and start writing down the tech specs of a machine you want/need.

 

lots of 14" laptops with 5650m's and 460m's in them. ( Acer, ASUS etc. )

I have to agree with the rest. Alienware is like Apple, its marketing and brand recognition. almost all pre Dell Alienwares were rebranded Clevo or Itronix machines. sometimes they had a mod or 2, or a fancy paint job but that was it. MANY of your high end boutique brand " gaming " laptops are Clevo based units( Xotic Pc, Malibal, Eurocom, Kobalt )

as for speed. I would have to saw AW gets beat badly with the Clevo's especially for performance, upgrades, and heat management.
even an older one like the Clevo X8100 can make my AW M17XR2 look pretty bad. the Clevo X7200 AFIK s still the heavy hitter of 17" untill all the SB/5XXm & SB/69XX machines come out

as for HP not making a " gaming " machine I would say they do I game alot on an Elitebook 8740W with the 5870's equivelent professinal GPU the m7820. its not Crossfire or SLI capable but does the job for me and never give me a problem. They make quite a few capable gaming laptops just dont market them as such.

MSI and ASUS also make many great gaming laptops just not with Xfire or SLI. ( which IMO is a pain to deal with outside of a desktop unless you LIKE screwing with drivers continually )

yep, I agree. and if you DONT need the portabiity build a desktop with over twice ther performance for half the cost.

 

Yeah I meant that it is tied for the most powerful GPU in a 14''.

 

Fair enough.

I'm looking for a laptop, yes I am through for the most part with desktops, I find that the mobility is terrific!

I want it to look sleek, and professinal like the Envy 17.I want it to be able to play the most current games at the highest settings possible! So it has to work with Crossfire HD 6970s and such that are coming out soon.
I want it to play Bluray 3D movies (bluray drive of course), and play 3D games, therefore its a given at least a 3D screen nice glossy with rich blacks/contrast/at least 120hz refresh rate. Oh, at least 17.3" or greater display.
I want Wifi, Bluetooth, Widi, and whatever other internet connectivity available.
I wouldn't mind a finger print reader. (not sure why Envy got rid of that)
For the most part the above mentioned is the most important specs. If I'm missing anything please let me know.

So some people here, including 2.0 seem to think Sager/Clevo is the way for me to ultimately go.... Now I just have to figure which of their models will be able to pull all that off.

Again, this is gonna cost I know, so I'm not in a rush. I am first getting my Envy 17 3D SB edition to hold me over for a few years...once I "make bank" $$$$$$, then we'll be talking some more fun.


KJ

 

Depending on the model you get, it will be far cheaper for more power with a sager. Most performance available will be the Clevo P150HM (for 15inch), Clevo P170HM, and the Clevo X7200 (dual 485m gtx's instead of single in the other). If you want price/top performance those are your three choices.

If you want something that looks nice and is close but costs a lot more -- look at the HP 8740w with the Quadro FX 5000 (basically a pro version of the 480m gtx i Believe) or the Dell Precision M6500 with the FX 5000. Both these are slightly less powerful than the Clevo's though but look nicer.

 

yes and no, for gaming my wifes machine with the fire pro m7820 games better than mine with the Quadro 5000. save the extra $700 and get the AMD card.

 

I have read that -- is that because of drivers mainly -- cuz the hardware is the 480m gtx basically?

 

not quite sure, drivers for certain and modding them to be a gforce dont help either. I do suspect something hardware as well since Nvidia loves to meddle at the chip level to prevent us from softmodding a GF to a Quadro properly as well.

 

The FirePro is essentially a BIOS-modded Mobility Radeon 5870. The best "gamer" card in the GPU selection for both Dell Precision M6500's and Elitebook 8740w's.

What he said. Sure the Quadros is Fermi-power with 480M specifications, but unlike ATI/AMD, nVidia has a HISTORY of "crippling and enhancing" GeForce cards into Quadros, with the Quadros "hardware modded" into being a powerful OpenGL card. Since it is "hardware modded," the Quadros has a really hard time to reconfigure back to a decent GeForce equivalent. It is one of the ways they try to make profit.

ATI/AMD's extent in making FireGL/FirePro's is merely just modifying on the BIOS-level to a degree, so most of the Radeon power can be restored with driver tweaking and vice versa for Radeon to FireGL/FirePro.

 

Great to learn something. Thanks for the insight guys.

 

if you dont care at all about money, get a falcon northwest with a hexa-core cpu & sli.

but as already stated by several people here, the best for gaming you can get, including some additional features and PERFECT quality and customer service, is by getting an elitebook (8540w & 8740w). well, no 3D, but everything else, and this better than 95% of all other notebooks.

 

well, I did a little sneaking around in the Sager/Clevo threads on NBR ...and I think the advice is pretty solid. Looks like a good company and I can probably get whatever specs I want with tv tuner, crossfire GPUs...so I think that is it....

I will get my Envy 17 3D for now, enjoy it for a couple years or so...and plan on getting the ultimate laptop later most likely from Sager/Clevo...but I'll keep an open mind.

KJ

 

Yep. I looked at Sager/Clevo for a while... until they went all 16:9. Then the 8740w showed up with Dreamcolor and I was sold...